2 . British birdwatcher are used to bad news. House sparrow numbers have fallen from an estimated 30m to 10m since 1966. Curlews （杓鹬）have become a rare sight, their numbers sharply declining by 50% in 15 years. Cuckoos（布谷鸟）， once-frequent visitors from Africa, have decreased by 63% in the south-east in the past two decades. Earlier springs that confuse migrant birds, more efficient farming and the transformation of ruined buildings (good for nesting) into modern homes have all contributed to these woes.

But data released by the British Trust for Ornithology(BTO), a research charity, suggest some are rising. Tracking bird populations by means of regular surveys, the figures give the clearest picture of 49 species across Britain.

Blackcaps（黑顶林莺）, small woodland birds native to Germany and eastern Europe, are unwilling to return after their summer short visits: Since 1967 numbers have increased by 177%. The little egret（小白鹭）, a white heron-like bird, arrived from continental Europe in 1989 and now numbers over 5,000. Wood pigeons（斑尾林鸽）, once found shyly singing in forests, have bravely moved into cities and suburbs.

Environmental and agricultural changes have helped as well as confused birds. Modern farming techniques allow grain to be planted in the autumn rather than the spring; that helps wood pigeons feed in winter. Warmer winters mean rivers and ponds are less likely to freeze, providing the little egrets with food. James Pearce-Higgins of the BTO says that blackcaps benefit particularly from the increasing popularity of berry bushes in people’s gardens.

Birders complain nonetheless. Some of the species booming, such as carrion crows（食腐乌鸦）and buzzards（秃鹰）, are disliked. And migrant birds that extend their visits may provide competition for some bird natives. They are “muscling in and getting the first claim on breeding sites”, says Richard Cowser of the Sussex Ornithological Society.                                        I like their human counterparts（同行）, residents of a small island stricken by global winds, British birds will have to learn to compete.

1. The underlined word “woes” in Paragraph 1 probably means____________.

A．Tragedy

B．construction

C．damage

D．migration

2. What might not be the reason for the increase of birds?

A．The access to people’s gardens.	B．Modern farming methods.
C．The different environmental patterns.	D．Rebuilding of abandoned houses.

3. Which of the following statements is correct according to the passage?

A．All bird lovers are satisfied with the situation of birds increasing.

B．Migrant birds lengthening their stays cause threat to the local birds.

C．Black caps whose home is Germany and eastern Europe refuse to stay in Britain.

D．More than 5000 little egrets arrived in Britain from continental Europe in 1989.

4. Where might this article come from?

A．A travel brochure.	B．An annual report.
C．A personal journal.	D．A magazine article.